Luminous advertising sign



May 22, 1934. Q WHITMAN I 1,960,131

LUMINOUS ADVERTISING SIGN Filed April 25 1933 fgiz.

Patented May 22, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT ()FFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates in general to advertising, and more particularly has reference to an illuminated body of such form as to convey an advertising message.

In previous practice, illuminated displays have been placed adjacent facsimiles of the articles adapted to be advertised, and in some cases the facsimile itself has been illuminated. However, in such instances the display and the facsimile have each created a separate impression upon the observer and have each formed a distinct display in themselves. None of these devices however have presented an illuminated display and an illuminated facsimile of the article being advertised in which the display and the facsimile form a single unitary display creating but a single impression, and in which the illuminated display itself will also illuminate the facsimile of the article being advertised.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a device for display advertising purposes which there shall be a facsimile of the article being advertised and an illuminated display used in conjunction therewith so as to form in appearance and effect a real part of said facsimile while at the same time furnishing illumination both for itself and for the facsimile. With this end in view, this invention consists essentially in mounting a luminous display within a container consisting of a facsimile of the article being advertised and formed of transparent or translucent material whereby the display may be readily distinguished through the Walls of the container and whereby the facsimile will be illuminated by the light from the display.

It is also an object of this invention to enclose a display formed of a luminous tube within a transparent or translucent container in such a manner that the display may be readily distinguished through the walls of the container and yet be protected from injury by the container. Furthermore, it is intended that the display shall be so arranged as to be readily detachable from the support upon which it is mounted and replaced by other displays, and it is further intended that the container shall be removable and replaceable.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being distinctly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken as in any way limiting the spirit or scope of this invention. The spirit and scope of this invention are to be limited only by the prior art taken in connection with the accompanying claims.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing in which like numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout:

Figure 1 is a front view of a display advertisement embodying this invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical cross section of the device illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section taken at right angles to the illustration shown in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a modification.

In accordance with this invention, a base member or support 1 is provided with a cover 2 for the purpose of providing a support for the transparent or translucent container 3 and for the luminous tube device 4.

The base 1 is provided with an opening 5 adjacent its lowermost portion, and a bushing 6 is inserted in said opening for the purpose of admitting a pair of electrical conductors 7 leading from a source of electrical energy to the transformer 8 located within the base 1 and adapted to transform electrical energy so that a it may be used for the purpose of illuminating the luminous tube 4. The transformer 8 is connected by means of a pair of conductors 9 to a pair of sockets or terminals 10 adapted to receive the opposite ends 11 of the tube 4. These ends 11 are additionally supported by means of braces or the like 12 extending from the walls of the base 1.

The cover 2 for the base 1 is provided with a marginal downwardly extending flange 13 adapted to firmly position it with respect to the base, and with an upwardly extending flange 14 adapted to receive the lower open end of the container 3, thus removably positioning this container 3 upon the support. The cover2 is likewise provided Within the confines of the flange 14 with openings 15 and 16 for the purpose of allowing the ends of the tube 4 to pass from the interior of the support 1 into the interior of the container 3.

The container 3 as previously stated is formed of transparent or translucent material and is formed into the shape of a facsimile of the article being advertised. It is formed of material sufficiently heavy and strong to adequately protect the more delicate luminous tube 4 which is within it, and is adapted to be illuminated by the light from the luminous tube 4 so that it will clearly stand out even in the darkness. It is understood that this at all points except the bottom thereof where it is open for the purpose of receiving the tube 4. As previously set forth, this open bottom portion is removably positioned on the support by means of the flange 14.

The luminous tube 4 is shown in this instance as being formed to provide the simulation of a label customarily used on the article being advertised. The label illustrated in this instance consists of a marginal portion 17 and other porcontainer 3 shall be closed tions curved to form the characters 18, these portions taken together forming a luminous display intended both to be distinguishable through the walls of the container 3 and also to illuminate the container. The portions of the luminous tube 4 between various parts forming the display are covered with any suitable opaque material such as black paint or the like as illustrated at 19. They will not throw off any light and will not in any way disturb the appearance of the remaining portion of the display.

It will be seen from the above that when the device just described is in use, the display advertisement formed of the luminous tube will serve the double purpose of illuminating the facsimile of the article being advertised and at the same time of forming 'a display which is an integral part of the appearance of the container. The container likewise performs the dual function of protecting the luminous tube and depicting the general appearance of the article being advertised. The overall appearance of the device when taken together is that of the article being advertised having upon its surface the display customarily used in connection with that article.

It will be understood that this invention may be made either in large or small form, that it may be either permanently located or portable, and that it may be adapted both for use indoors and in the open. It is understood also that the display portions of the illuminous tubes are to be placed in sufficiently close proximity to the front wall of the container so that the display may be easily distinguished through the wall of the container even though the container be of translucent material instead of transparent material. Many other changes and modifications may be made in the arrangement of parts and in the combination set forth without departing from the spirit of this invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Figure 4 shows a device similar in all respects to that above described except that in this instance a label 20 of the same design customarily used on the bottle is placed on the front of the bottle so that when the luminous tube is not lighted the bottle will have the customary appearance of the article as sold. This label 20 is preferably printed on semi-transparent paper or the like, and it has been found that in such case, when the tube is lighted the printing on the label will become invisible and only the luminous tube inside the container may be read.

What I claim is: V i

1. In combination, a translucent container simulating an article tobe advertised, a luminous tube supported within said container and formed within said container with curvatures to represent an advertising display customarilyappearing on the article advertised, opaque means covering all portions of the tube not forming a part of said advertising display, andmeans to connect the luminous tube to a source of electricity, said advertising display being positioned sufliciently close to a wall of said container to permit it to be definitely distinguished therethrough, whereby the direct light from the advertising display portion of the tube only will be clearly defined and the entire container will appear luminous from the indirect light, the entire device simulating the customary appearance of the article being; advertised.

2. In combination, a translucent container simulating an article to be advertised, a luminous tube supported within said container and formed Within said container with curvatures to represent an advertising display, opaque means covering all portions of the tube not forming a part of said advertising display, and means to connect the luminous tube to a source of electricity, said advertising display being positioned sufficiently close to a wall of said containerto permit it to be distinguished definitely therethrough, whereby the direct light from, the advertising display portion of the tube only will be clearly defined and the entire container will appear luminous from the indirect light.

3. In combination, a translucent container simulating an article to be advertised, a luminous tube supported within said container and formed within said container with curvatures to represent an advertising display customarily appearing on the article advertised, and means to connect the luminous tube to a source of electricity, said advertising display being positioned sufficiently close to a wall of said container to permit it to be definitely distinguished therethrough, whereby the direct light from the advertising display will be clearly defined while the entire container will appear luminous from the indirect light thus causing the entire device to simulate the customary appearance of the article being advertised.

4. In combination, a translucent container simulating an article to be advertised, a luminous tube supported within said container and formed within said container with curvatures to represent an advertising display, and means to connect the luminous tube to a source of electricity, said advertising display being positioned sufficiently close to a wall of said container to permit it to be definitely distinguished therethrough, whereby the direct light from the advertising display will pass through the translucent walls of the container and the indirect light will be diffused by the translucent container walls and will cause the entire container to appear luminous. I

5. In combination, a container simulating an article to be advertised and formed of a material capable of transmitting light, a luminous tube supported within said container and formed within said container with curvatures to simulate a label customarily appearing on the article advertised, and means to connect the luminous tube to a source of electricity, whereby the light from the advertising display will illuminate the container and will cause the entire device to simulate the customary appearance of the article being advertised. I

6. In combination, a container simulating an article to be advertised and formed of a material capable of transmitting light, a luminous tube supported within said container and formed with curvatures to represent an advertising display within said container, rneans to connect the luminous tube to a source of electricity whereby light from the. advertising. display will illuminate the container, and a label of semi-transparent material on the front of said container, whereby only the label will be readable when said tube is not lighted and only the display formed by said tubing will be distinguishable when the tubing is lighted.

CHANNIINIG WHITMAN. 

